Customer Reviews

Domino Theory

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

With the slow death of WR in the early to mid 80's I stopped buying their lps. I was listening to jazz radio one night and turned it on half way through Db Waltz. I have loved this tune ever since. Hakim gets a groove going on this tune that's awesome! This tune was a return to what made WR great. A good groove and great soloing from Shorter. A nice change from the previous few techno synth albums which "shorted" shorter. The rest of album has its good moments as well. If you are a Omar Hakim fan get this one and Procession and invite some friends over to dance. (sure they willl find you strange but what the hell)

I recall reading an article wherewhich the author states that Weather Report could not and did not survive Jaco's departure. Well, as much as I love Pastorius' work with WR and solo, I must say that WR existed before Jaco was even known (maybe via Wayne Cochrane, if at all), and the band was well on its way to becoming jazz fusion juggernaut. With Jaco, WR became a force in more mainstreem audiences ("Jaco was responsible for bringing the white kids to the concerts" - Joe Zawinul) besides college campuses and in Japan. Afterwards, his "replacement" Victor Bailey took the groove Jaco brought out from within the band and expanded it. I say "replacement" because Bailey did not cop any style of Jaco's, he brought his own. Bailey is no where near flamboyant on stage as Pastorius, but this is a CD and WR is about musicianship, and even on the videos I've seen of this tour Bailey compliments Zawinul and Shorter in ways Pastorius could not and did not. Far removed from the early material (Umbrellas, the Moors, Scarlet Woman) , this CD offers a much more fluid and infecuous style that cannot be denied.

In 2007, the main 16 Weather Report Columbia titles were re-released in Japan with new DSD remastering in mini-sleeve format. From an audio quality standpoint, the DSD versions now supercede all the earlier standard-CD-audio U.S. releases (some of the WR catalog are available as SACD's).

Additionally, the Japan editions feature a welcome 2CD restoration of "8:30" to the original 13-track double-LP album configuration, with the proper inclusion of "Scarlet Woman", which had been edited off all domestic editions to allow for a cheaper, single-disc release.

So far, the WR DSD catalog is only available in mini-sleeve format, and all `sleeves are limited edition. If it is your desire to own the latest/greatest audio, then don't delay in picking these up, although it is always possible that Sony Japan will release them again as less expensive jewel case editions somewhere down the road. However, for the true WR fan and vinyl nut, it's great to have the wonderful mini-LP replicas of the original LP covers!

I wanted to provide links for each 2007 `sleeve edition, but unfortunately, Amazon only allows 10 per review. But, by linking to the 2007 DSD remaster of the first Weather Report album, you should be able to use the "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought" tool to locate the rest of the 2007 DSD titles (just make sure you verify the release date and Product Description).

Also, of note: In this same release were updated DSD remasters of the following WR-member solo albums, also as mini-sleeves:

Jaco Pastorius (1st album)
Wayne Shorter "Native Dancer"
Joe Zawinul "Di-a-lects"

And, the two Havana Jam albums, both where WR appeared live, also as `sleeves:

Havana Jam 1
Havana Jam 2

And, FINALLY: 2007 witnessed John McLaughlin finally relenting to release the full Trio Of Doom studio & live recordings, the awesome line-up of McLaughlin, Pastorius and Tony Williams, which could only be found previously on the Havana Jam albums, albeit in edited form.

WHAT IS A JAPAN "MINI-LP-SLEEVE" CD?

Have you ever lamented the loss of one of the 20th Century's great art forms, the 12" vinyl LP jacket? Then "mini-LP-sleeve" CD's may be for you.

Mini-sleeve CDs are manufactured in Japan under license. The disc is packaged inside a 135MM X 135MM cardboard precision-miniature replica of the original classic vinyl-LP album. Also, anything contained in the original LP, such as gatefolds, booklets, lyric sheets, posters, printed LP sleeves, stickers, embosses, special LP cover paper/inks/textures and/or die cuts, are precisely replicated and included. An English-language lyric sheet is always included, even if the original LP did not have printed lyrics.

Then, there's the sonic quality: Often (but not always), mini-sleeves have dedicated remastering (20-Bit, 24-Bit, DSD, K2/K2HD, and/or HDCD), and can often (but not always) be superior to the audio on the same title anywhere else in the world. There also may be bonus tracks unavailable elsewhere.

Each Japan mini-sleeve has an "obi" ("oh-bee"), a removable Japan-language promotional strip. The obi lists the Japan street date of that particular release, the catalog number, the mastering info, and often the original album's release date. Bonus tracks are only listed on the obi, maintaining the integrity of the original LP artwork. The obi's are collectable, and should not be discarded.

All mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, but re-pressings/re-issues are becoming more common (again, not always). The enthusiasm of mini-sleeve collecting must be tempered, however, with avoiding fake mini-sleeves manufactured in Russia and distributed throughout the world, primarily on eBay. They are inferior in quality, worthless in collectable value, a total waste of money, and should be avoided at all costs.

Omar Hakim is great! I have most of Weather Report's CDs. But this one, simply blew me away! When I first heard Db Waltz - in the 80's, I fell to my knees - and apologized for picking up a pair of drum sticks. This CD put Mr. Hakim in a league with the great drummers in history. Mr. Hakim's creative ratamaque on Db Waltz was ingenious. It's also good to see great musicians like Zawinul (RIP) and Wayne Shorter open their arms to young great musicians.

Only one of the most amazing and funky jazz fusion records ever made! Listen to Swamp Cabbage and tell me otherwise. I bought this album (yes, the LP) when it was released in 1984 and it was nothing short of an incredible introduction to the greatest jazz fusion front men (Zawinul and Shorter). The drums and percussion on this record are sick. Not sure why this album did not get better reviews (then and now) and why rap dj's aren't sampling it more :-). Anyway, get the CD, plug into a Hi Fi system (at a quality high volume) and you won't be disappointed.

This album is phenomenal. My husband is a producer and he's been talking about this album for years. I'm not sure of his name, but one of the members of this band passed away recently and it happened to be on the same day my husband's mother passed. This album was on his heart so I purchased it for him. His favorite song is "Can It Be Done?". But really, the whole album is phenomenal. It's a wonderful addition to any CD collection.

In 2007, the main 16 Weather Report Columbia titles were re-released in Japan with new DSD remastering in mini-sleeve format. From an audio quality standpoint, the DSD versions now supercede all the earlier standard-CD-audio U.S. releases (some of the WR catalog are available as SACD's).

Additionally, the Japan editions feature a welcome 2CD restoration of "8:30" to the original 13-track double-LP album configuration, with the proper inclusion of "Scarlet Woman", which had been edited off all domestic editions to allow for a cheaper, single-disc release.

So far, the WR DSD catalog is only available in mini-sleeve format, and all `sleeves are limited edition. If it is your desire to own the latest/greatest audio, then don't delay in picking these up, although it is always possible that Sony Japan will release them again as less expensive jewel case editions somewhere down the road. However, for the true WR fan and vinyl nut, it's great to have the wonderful mini-LP replicas of the original LP covers!

I wanted to provide links for each 2007 `sleeve edition, but unfortunately, Amazon only allows 10 per review. But, by linking to the 2007 DSD remaster of the first Weather Report album, you should be able to use the "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought" tool to locate the rest of the 2007 DSD titles (just make sure you verify the release date and Product Description).

Also, of note: In this same release were updated DSD remasters of the following WR-member solo albums, also as mini-sleeves:

Jaco Pastorius (1st album)
Wayne Shorter "Native Dancer"
Joe Zawinul "Di-a-lects"

And, the two Havana Jam albums, both where WR appeared live, also as `sleeves:

Havana Jam 1
Havana Jam 2

And, FINALLY: 2007 witnessed John McLaughlin finally relenting to release the full Trio Of Doom studio & live recordings, the awesome line-up of McLaughlin, Pastorius and Tony Williams, which could only be found previously on the Havana Jam albums, albeit in edited form.

WHAT IS A JAPAN "MINI-LP-SLEEVE" CD?

Have you ever lamented the loss of one of the 20th Century's great art forms, the 12" vinyl LP jacket? Then "mini-LP-sleeve" CD's may be for you.

Mini-sleeve CDs are manufactured in Japan under license. The disc is packaged inside a 135MM X 135MM cardboard precision-miniature replica of the original classic vinyl-LP album. Also, anything contained in the original LP, such as gatefolds, booklets, lyric sheets, posters, printed LP sleeves, stickers, embosses, special LP cover paper/inks/textures and/or die cuts, are precisely replicated and included. An English-language lyric sheet is always included, even if the original LP did not have printed lyrics.

Then, there's the sonic quality: Often (but not always), mini-sleeves have dedicated remastering (20-Bit, 24-Bit, DSD, K2/K2HD, and/or HDCD), and can often (but not always) be superior to the audio on the same title anywhere else in the world. There also may be bonus tracks unavailable elsewhere.

Each Japan mini-sleeve has an "obi" ("oh-bee"), a removable Japan-language promotional strip. The obi lists the Japan street date of that particular release, the catalog number, the mastering info, and often the original album's release date. Bonus tracks are only listed on the obi, maintaining the integrity of the original LP artwork. The obi's are collectable, and should not be discarded.

All mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, but re-pressings/re-issues are becoming more common (again, not always). The enthusiasm of mini-sleeve collecting must be tempered, however, with avoiding fake mini-sleeves manufactured in Russia and distributed throughout the world, primarily on eBay. They are inferior in quality, worthless in collectable value, a total waste of money, and should be avoided at all costs.

In 2007, the main 16 Weather Report Columbia titles were re-released in Japan with new DSD remastering in mini-sleeve format. From an audio quality standpoint, the DSD versions now supercede all the earlier standard-CD-audio U.S. releases (some of the WR catalog are available as SACD's).

Additionally, the Japan editions feature a welcome 2CD restoration of "8:30" to the original 13-track double-LP album configuration, with the proper inclusion of "Scarlet Woman", which had been edited off all domestic editions to allow for a cheaper, single-disc release.

So far, the WR DSD catalog is only available in mini-sleeve format, and all `sleeves are limited edition. If it is your desire to own the latest/greatest audio, then don't delay in picking these up, although it is always possible that Sony Japan will release them again as less expensive jewel case editions somewhere down the road. However, for the true WR fan and vinyl nut, it's great to have the wonderful mini-LP replicas of the original LP covers!

I wanted to provide links for each 2007 `sleeve edition, but unfortunately, Amazon only allows 10 per review. But, by linking to the 2007 DSD remaster of the first Weather Report album, you should be able to use the "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought" tool to locate the rest of the 2007 DSD titles (just make sure you verify the release date and Product Description).

Also, of note: In this same release were updated DSD remasters of the following WR-member solo albums, also as mini-sleeves:

Jaco Pastorius (1st album)
Wayne Shorter "Native Dancer"
Joe Zawinul "Di-a-lects"

And, the two Havana Jam albums, both where WR appeared live, also as `sleeves:

Havana Jam 1
Havana Jam 2

And, FINALLY: 2007 witnessed John McLaughlin finally relenting to release the full Trio Of Doom studio & live recordings, the awesome line-up of McLaughlin, Pastorius and Tony Williams, which could only be found previously on the Havana Jam albums, albeit in edited form.

WHAT IS A JAPAN "MINI-LP-SLEEVE" CD?

Have you ever lamented the loss of one of the 20th Century's great art forms, the 12" vinyl LP jacket? Then "mini-LP-sleeve" CD's may be for you.

Mini-sleeve CDs are manufactured in Japan under license. The disc is packaged inside a 135MM X 135MM cardboard precision-miniature replica of the original classic vinyl-LP album. Also, anything contained in the original LP, such as gatefolds, booklets, lyric sheets, posters, printed LP sleeves, stickers, embosses, special LP cover paper/inks/textures and/or die cuts, are precisely replicated and included. An English-language lyric sheet is always included, even if the original LP did not have printed lyrics.

Then, there's the sonic quality: Often (but not always), mini-sleeves have dedicated remastering (20-Bit, 24-Bit, DSD, K2/K2HD, and/or HDCD), and can often (but not always) be superior to the audio on the same title anywhere else in the world. There also may be bonus tracks unavailable elsewhere.

Each Japan mini-sleeve has an "obi" ("oh-bee"), a removable Japan-language promotional strip. The obi lists the Japan street date of that particular release, the catalog number, the mastering info, and often the original album's release date. Bonus tracks are only listed on the obi, maintaining the integrity of the original LP artwork. The obi's are collectable, and should not be discarded.

All mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, but re-pressings/re-issues are becoming more common (again, not always). The enthusiasm of mini-sleeve collecting must be tempered, however, with avoiding fake mini-sleeves manufactured in Russia and distributed throughout the world, primarily on eBay. They are inferior in quality, worthless in collectable value, a total waste of money, and should be avoided at all costs.

With the incredible rhythm section of Jaco Pastorius and Peter Erskine now off in Jaco's Word of Mouth Big Band, Zawinul had the seemingly impossible task of keeping WR's momentum while keeping the music both fresh & exciting. He does this by enlisting drummer Omar Hakim and a young bassist called Victor Bailey, and moves WR from the r&b vibe of this previous albums and revisits its early sounds (with Vitous) while breaking ground in world music (as in Zawinul's later recordings). It seems Zawinul used the departure of Pastorius and Erskine to re-invent WR (and maybe himself?). Unfortunately, we hear less enthusiasm from Wayne Shorter. His sound is still Shorter, but not as fresh and on fire as in earlier WR records. This LP is a turning point and a high one, but also the beginning of the end.

'Domino Theory' is Weather Reports 1984 offering and,in many basic ways is far more sprightly then the previous album
'Procession'.That's because the album gently backs away from WR
classic sound and slowly into the sound of they're last two albums circa 1985-86.The opening track "Can It Be Done" features
a lovely vocal by Carl Anderson married to a stark ballad.The lyrics refer not only to the band as a unit but to the end of the musical era they represent,which is a fine statement for this album.Joe Zawinul was here witnessing the ending of the original fusion era and that beginning of the smooth jazz generation,and he was still committed here to his classic sound.
Musically speaking this entire album is a showcase for this often underrated version of the band "D Flat Waltz" and "Predator" feature deep,fat electric bass solo's abound from Victor Bailey.The deeply metatative "The Peasant" is very pretty and memorable and,oddly enough,embellished by Zawinuls first use of digital keyboards."Blue Sound" and the manic title track could almost be described as stereotypical Weather Report with busy keyboard fills dancing around Wayne Shorters always electric saxophone."Swamp Cabbage" by contrast showcases a deep funk groove,almost too deep to even be funk but it works.
Taken as a whole 'Domino Theory' is certainly not Weather Report's greatest album ever (or really even of the 1980's) but it certainly works very well as a demonstration of
the bands transitionary period that sadly would soon represent the end of Weather Report itself.But this being the beginning of Weather Reports last triade of albums is certainly as dynamic as ever,even if the public was loosing interest and the sound was,by mid 80's standard pretty retro 70's jazz fusion in parts.But it is still Weather Report's sound that they carried with them until the very end.So in that respect this album was indeed a success.